Trio of Mates
Chapter 64

After Devin entered and he and Arya claimed each other as mates, pretty much everyone was silent and shocked. Well, those of us that didn’t know. So everyone except the Oracle, Meredith, my mates, and me. And Mathias. I could already tell that he was pissed when Arya and Xander claimed each other as mates. I’m guessing that he and Arya were in some kind of relationship and he isn’t too happy to have his bedmate taken. But when Devin claimed Arya as well, his fury became palpable.

Zak, Charlie, and I had watched as Mathias began to shift, seemingly without his consent. His wolf fed on his rage and began to take over his form.

The three of us fanned out, each linking separate warriors to make sure that we were ready for whatever might happen.

Xander, Devin, and Arya had no idea what was going on, but the rest of our pack were edging closer to Mathias and his wolves. Four of our wolves boxed each of theirs in, making sure that there was nowhere for them to go. We didn’t touch them, or invade their personal space, but each of us was within striking distance. We were ready.

I heard Arya’s wonderstruck voice talking to her mates. “Mine.” The thick smell of arousal filled the air and Mathias began to lose it. I watched as his fangs began to lengthen and his eyes flashed black.

I’ve got him. You guys cover the rest. Zak linked.

Charlie and I nodded, facing different directions to keep all the wolves in our sight.

I could hear the snapping of bones as Devin and his mates continue to revel in each other’s presence, but I trust my mate, my Alpha. He will keep us safe.

“Yes…” Xander said.

“We’re all yours,” Devin responded.

“WHAT THE F**K IS GOING ON?I” Mathias yelled.

Immediately, we link our warriors and all of our wolves prepare for attack. Wolves pour out of the pack house and down the drive. All of them are prepared for the attack, catching the Blue Crescent Pack by surprise, especially when their alpha is not attending to their safety. Mathias was basically roiding out and they were left to their own devices.

Zak steps right in front of Mathias, making my gut clench in fear. He is too close to the homicidal wolf. If he does anything to Zak, I’ll kill him and deal with the fall out later.

Zak’s low voice carries through the yard. “I would suggest that you shift back, Alpha Mathias, before our meeting becomes a lot less friendly.”

Mathias gnashes his teeth, rage coming off of him in waves. He is attempting to get around Zak, to get to Arya, Devin, and Xander.

Zak lets out a growl from deep within his chest. It’s a sound that I’ve never heard him make before, even in the midst of battle. It is low, loud, and powerful. More powerful than anything that I’ve ever felt from him. He is challenging another alpha. Forcing him to submit.

Immediately, all of the other wolves in the vicinity bow their heads, baring their necks. Some of the weaker ones, including two from Mathias’s pack, kneel, putting their heads almost to the dirt. The only reason that it didn’t affect Charlie and me is because Zak is our mate. He cannot make us submit. We do so willingly.

Zak’s attention remains solely focused on Mathias. The older alpha’s face is a picture of strain. His forehead is creased, eyes squinting, and sweat pouring down the sides of his face. He is trying to fight Zak’s command, but he is losing.

“Shift,” Zak says, his command pushing further.

Mathias’s wolf recedes in an instant, leaving him sweat slicked and breathless. His neck immediately bares to Zak, almost unconsciously.

Well, sh!t…This just went from bad to worse. Not only was Mathias about to replace out that there are three trios in our pack containing gay men, but his bedmate has been taken out from under him by one of those trios, and he has just submitted to another alpha. This is so not good.

After a few seconds, Zak lowers his aura. However, he keeps eye contact with Mathias. “I trust that nothing like that will happen again during this visit.”

“I will not shift out of anger again.” Mathias’s voice is laced with anger, embarrassment, and fear. “But I need an explanation. How the hell does she have two mates?”

“She is part of a trio,” Lucille says from the doorway of the packhouse. “The Goddess has blessed our pack with several such trios.”

Mathias’s eyes widen. “Trios? You mean like that nutjob Gael from the Diana pack?”

“Is he really a nutjob if the Goddess ordained it?” Meredith says.

Mathias looks as if he can’t handle this news, so he ignores it. “And just who the f**k are you two to speak to me?”

Charlie growls at the disrespect. “They are our Oracle and Oracle-in-training. If they say that the Goddess made them a trio, then they are a trio.”

Mathias ignores this and turns back to the trio in question. “Wait, are they mates as well?” He points to Xander and Devin.

“Marked and mated, already.” Devin pulls his collar aside to show his matemark.

If Mathias’s eyes widen any more, they are going to fall out of his head. “They’re gay?” His statement comes out as a question as his eyes flicker to Zak. “You allowed two gay men to take the positions of Gamma and Delta of your pack?”

“If it is the Goddesses will, who am I to second guess it?” Zak’s voice is low and steady. Nothing about his posture or tone shows the immense anger that he feels towards Mathias, though I can feel it rolling through the mate bond.

Mathias looks at Zak and does a double take when he sees Zak’s neck. “You…you have two matemarks…”

“I have two mates,” Zak says, his hands going behind his back, reaching for us. Charlie and I walk to him, interlacing our fingers with his.

“This is blasphemy!” Mathias’s anger causes him to visibly shake. “This is unnatural. This is…disgusting.” His face morphs into a snarl as he hurls the words at us.

“This is the will of our Goddess,” Lucille decrees.

“I will not stay here any longer. Blue Crescent Pack! Let’s go!” Mathias screams. He walks around us, careful not to touch us. It’s almost as if he thinks our touch will contaminate him.

The Blue Crescent wolves hurriedly move to their cars, but Arya stays where she is, looking between her Alpha and her mates.

“Delta! Get in the car! NOW!” Mathias screams.

Xander clutches her arm. “Arya. Please don’t go. Stay with us.” His voice is pleading and his eyes fill with tears.

“Please, my love. Don’t go. We can make you so happy. We’ll keep you safe.” Devin says, holding her face in his hands.

Mathias stomps over to them and I begin to make my way to them. If he touches them, I will make sure that he loses whatever body part touches them. “If you keep her here, I will consider it an act of war. She is still my pack member.” He grabs Arya’s arm and tries to pull her away from Xander and Devin.

They react immediately. Xander grabs Mathias’s arm and Devin grabs his wrist. Both snarl into his face, their eyes bleeding black.

From clenched teeth, Xander grits out, “Unhand her or you won’t have a hand to grab with.”

Devin’s teeth elongate and his eyes bleed black. I’m willing to bet the same thing is happening to Xander, but I can’t see him from my angle.

“She is my pack member. My Delta. She is coming with me.” Mathias snarls, his words carefully enunciated.

She has to go, guys. You know that. I link them.

No! Xander pleads. They’ll hurt her. You know what the Goddess said. They’re going to nearly kill her! His voice is desperate, fear permeating his words.

Arya stares between her alpha and her mates, confusion and fear clear in her eyes. “I…I…This is a lot.” Her voice seems lost and you can clearly see the indecision in her face. “Two mates? Two?” She looks between Xander and Devin’s faces. There is so much love there, but also that overwhelming fear. Then her eyes settle on Mathias and her face pales at his rage.

I know what she’s going to do a second before it happens. I think Xander and Devin see it, too. They both let go of Mathias and reach for her.

“I, Arya Vetger, Delta of the Blue Crescent Pack, reject you, Devin Laoch, Gamma of the Artemis Pack, and you, Xander Hawthorne, Delta of the Artemis Pack, as my mates.”

Devin and Xander crumple to their knees, clutching their chests. Arya begins to fall, but she is caught by Mathias. A feral grin spreads across his face as he looks down at Xander and Devin, clutching each other in their pain.

The crazed alpha hands Arya to one of his pack members and orders them to take her to the car. He then turns to Zak, who has run with Charlie and me to care for Xander and Devin.

“This isn’t over, faggot. When the other packs hear of your blasphemy, they will come to tear your pack down brick by brick. This is war.” Zak snarls at Mathias as the older man walks to his car and they speed out of our territory.